Reports: House GOP lining up behind Boehner’s plan

posted at 4:28 pm on July 27, 2011 by Allahpundit

[T]he opposition bloc led by [Jim] Jordan appears to be crumbling, as leadership’s message seems to be sinking in. Sources tells NRO that a number of members who were confirmed no votes against the Boehner plan announced during the meeting that they would be voting yes. One of those members, Rep. Blake Farenthold (R., Texas) told reporters that while he would like to “snap my fingers and change the world like ‘I Dream of Genie’ of Samantha on ‘Bewitched,’” Republicans “need to take what we can get.”…

Even Rep. Mike Pence (R., Ind.), a prominent conservative with a history of voting against leadership, said he was undecided, but seemed to indicate that he could ultimately support the plan, calling it “an important first step toward fiscal discipline and reform.”…

Members will be presented with an updated draft of the plan later this afternoon, with a vote tentatively scheduled for Thursday. GOP aides won’t predict whether or not they have the votes to pass the plan, but acknowledge things are moving in the right direction. Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), however, said he thought the plan would pass. Tea-party favorite Allen West (R., Fla.), who supports the plan, said he might be willing to bet his retirement check on it.

Politico has quotes from other Republican freshmen who are softening on the bill. Maybe they could have held out if a few things had broken differently, but between (a) the risk of economic catastrophe from hitting the ceiling, (b) the broken caucus that would have resulted from defeating its own leader’s plan in a high-stakes showdown with Obama, (c) the political cover to vote yes provided by “true conservative” favorites like West, Ryan, Fred Thompson, and John Bolton (even Pence is on the fence), and (d) the backlash against Jim Jordan after one of his staffers allegedly tried to gin up outside pressure on other Republicans, I guess the choice here ended up being easier than thought. In fact, I wonder if Hoyer played into Boehner’s hands a bit by insisting that zero Democrats will vote for Boehner’s bill. He has to play it that way to make things as difficult as possible for the GOP, of course, since that’ll improve the Reid bill’s chances of passage, but he could have done so quietly. If House conservatives were led to believe that some Blue Dogs might vote with Boehner, it would have eased the new “circle the wagons” mindset and maybe encouraged more of them to hold out. Instead, thanks to Obama’s veto threat and the prospect of a unified Democratic opposition, the caucus is facing a “vote against Boehner is a vote for Reid” dilemma. Not much of a dilemma, really. As it is, one House source tells NRO’s Robert Costa that the final vote might not even be close.

Ironically, Boehner may also benefit from delaying the vote by a day in order to rework his bill after its disappointing CBO score. The market was down 199 points today, its biggest drop in almost two months; GOP fencesitters might dismiss that as a standard blip, but I encourage you to read this Megan McArdle post recounting her chat with Wall Street sources about why the market hasn’t tanked yet. It’s not because they think hitting the ceiling is no big deal, it’s because they think it’s such an enormously big deal that they simply can’t believe Congress will let it happen, even at this late hour. (And yeah, it’s true that we won’t default on August 2nd — even Carney now admits that — but the sudden drop in government outlays after we prioritize payments to creditors would still be a blow to the economy. Just ask Paul Ryan.) Can’t wait to see their reaction if Boehner’s bill ends up tanking after all.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s Reid insisting that Boehner’s bill doesn’t have a prayer in the Senate. Let’s see what he says on Friday, if/when JB’s bill has passed the House and Reid’s bill has died in the Senate. Exit quotation from Mike Crapo, commenting on the sudden surge of Republican support for Boehner: “It looks like they are going to have the votes to get it through.”

Until we get to heaven that is often our only choice. So you’re just noticing the obvious.

If we were on a lifeboat and I had to cut your hand off with a Swiss Army Knife because it was gangrenous, that would be an evil but it would negate the greater evil of letting you die a long and awful death.

Until we get to heaven that is often our only choice. So you’re just noticing the obvious.

If we were on a lifeboat and I had to cut your hand off with a Swiss Army Knife because it was gangrenous, that would be an evil but it would negate the greater evil of letting you die a long and awful death.

I’m so sick of this crap. Just pass Boehner’s plan, tell Reid his plans DOA in the House and that he can choose from among the Ryan budget, CCB/BBA or the Boehner plan. Then just end it. Toss it over to the Senate and force the upper chamber to sweat a bit along with Obama. As far as reality goes, I suggest continuing to stockpile and finding ways to help out in your local community if and when the fit hits the shan.

I don’t think that is true. If Republicans weren’t in charge of the House the debt ceiling would have been rubber stamped – complete with more tax hikes and advancement of the Liberal agenda. Now, we’ve had this national debate, Americans are increasingly aware of the problems facing us, and we get some growth cuts and no tax hikes all the while making the Liberal Agenda looking perverse and unworkable. How is that surrender?

It’s the only play the GOP has. Well, either that or blocking any debt ceiling hike and we know that ain’t happening. Think big picture, folks. If the market tanks(dragging the economy into hell along with it) because Republicans are steadfast in preventing any increase, who do you think immediately gets the blame for the entire thing? And how do you think that’ll impact their chances in 2012?

Pass the Boehner bill, prevent any tax hikes(which will p-ss off libtards), force Obama to sign it, and focus on 2012. Because this is all academic if we don’t get the Senate and White House back.

I`m getting the impression most here don`t want any deal, because CCB will never make it past the senate as it`s comprised now. We can always cross our fingers and hope no deal goes through and Obama moves the Doomsday date a month down the road.

Wait a minute. The plan is to pass the Boehner bill and send it to senate… for what exactly? If Reid didn’t pass the CCB, they are going to pass this bill? This is all a stunt to put blame on the Democrats? That’s what the whole drama is being played out for?

Even Rep. Mike Pence (R., Ind.), a prominent conservative with a history of voting against leadership, said he was undecided, but seemed to indicate that he could ultimately support the plan, calling it “an important first step toward fiscal discipline and reform.”…

And that’s what it is, a first step. At last, some adults in the room.

Step 1: Push for a vote half-heartedly for a conservative priority (recall the repeal/defund of Obamacare and now CCB).

Step 2: After the bill fails in the Senate, drop it and push for an alternative that does nothing except continue with the status quo. Use scare tactics to push the bill through. Fight and cajole for it to get passed.

Step 3: The Morning After – Oh No! We all find out that we’ve been had. The crappy bill is even more crappier than we thought. Some congressmen show faux indiganation: “Never again! Next time we will not….”

Step 4: Lather, Rinse, Repeat…

If Boehner’s crappy plan passes as you are predicting, Allahpundit, I will be counting down to your next article on how crappy this plan was.

What Boehner has succeeded in doing is getting the base really pissed off at the House GOP. And they will pay, mark my words!

Sold us out again, freaking whimps! They want Obama back in office it seems, this is the best way to do it by stepping on conservatives necks again and splitting the party. What a bunch of idiots, ” we have to take what we can get..! WTF!

D@#^ it. The Repub house has already passed two bills. Make the Senate vote on both of them before doing anything. I am tired of the Repubs being Democrat lite or Statist as Levine puts it. House Repubs need to grow a backbone and make the upper Chamber vote so Americans know where each Senator is.

The so-called Tea Party candidates that vote for this better watch for primary contestants for 2012. They were sent for this moment and are failing the fiscal conservatives that voted them in.

So instead of Democrats having to bite the bullet and accept a balanced budget in exchange for the debt increase, Republicans are once again the ones who have to bite the bullet and accept almost nothing in exchange for the same.

For Pete’s sake. The GOP controls ONE FREAKING house. They’ve done a pretty good job of putting brakes on our boy king and his socialist ways.
Boehner has been a better leader throughout this than the GOP has seen in decades. He’s stood firmer than Newt did back in his day.
The Tea Party (which isn’t really a party, right?) has had amazing impact on our government already. Now don’t F it up by being greedy and stupid. The big fight is November of next year. Tear the GOP down now, and you get BHO until 2016, along with the next great depression.
I can only hope that some of the more idiotic folks on these threads are libtard trolls.

And that’s what it is, a first step. At last, some adults in the room.

Vince on July 27, 2011 at 4:45 PM

Wasn’t the 1st step supposedly the “cuts” Boehner and Obama did in April? I’m tired of 1st steps. I want 2nd and 3rd and 4th steps that actually cut spending. This is the 100th first step which will lead to nothing.

Wait a minute. The plan is to pass the Boehner bill and send it to senate… for what exactly? If Reid didn’t pass the CCB, they are going to pass this bill? This is all a stunt to put blame on the Democrats? That’s what the whole drama is being played out for?

promachus on July 27, 2011 at 4:45 PM

Fine by me. That’s actually a great scenario for the GOP if Reid and/or Obama kill the Boehner bill. Then they own the negative economic repercussions.

Ok, let’s game plan a bit here. Let’s say Boehner’s plan passes and that Reid and the Senate Dems make good on their threat to kill it in the Senate. The House, at that point, will certainly kill Reid’s bill, if for no other reason than retribution. So where does that leave us? Remember Reid’s been saying that Boehner’s plan is just as dead as CCB/BBA. Assuming he’s not bluffing, what then? The House will dig in their heels out of extreme frustration over the Senate, and the Senate won’t move either. What then? The well has been so poisoned that I think a McConnell type punt is even less likely now than before. Thoughts?

House Republicans 0n Wednesday morning were calling for the firing of Republican Study Committee staffers after they were caught sending e-mails to conservative groups urging them to pressure GOP lawmakers to vote against a debt proposal from Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Infuriated by the e-mails from Paul Teller, the executive director of the RSC, and other staffers, members started chanting “Fire him, fire him!” while Teller stood silently at a closed-door meetings of House Republicans. “It was an unbelievable moment,” said one GOP insider. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

If this isn’t an example of RINO’s running scared and trying to preserve their power base, than nothing is. FIRE these twits and get some people in Congress that actually care about this country and it’s destruction! Primary everyone of them and get some real conservatives with a spine in there. That would be women because the men in the GOP are crybaby liberals.

Good. Give me a break. If Boehner’s bill goes down say hello to the Reid bill and a HUGE victory for Obama. They don’t understand that? The way they were going after Boehner yesterday was unreal.

Tasha on July 27, 2011 at 4:42 PM

Boner’s first plan was a disgrace. If you can’t see that you may have to rethink what you really believe in. Just imagine – Boner could only squeeze $1 billion out of a $3.6 Trillion budget. That’s laughable and deeply insulting at the same time. Even the Marxist in the Senate beat him there. Pathetic!

Just pass Boehner’s plan, tell Reid his plans DOA in the House and that he can choose from among the Ryan budget, CCB/BBA or the Boehner plan. Then just end it. Toss it over to the Senate and force the upper chamber to sweat a bit along with Obama.

If Republicans weren’t in charge of the House the debt ceiling would have been rubber stamped – complete with more tax hikes and advancement of the Liberal agenda. Now, we’ve had this national debate, Americans are increasingly aware of the problems facing us, and we get some growth cuts and no tax hikes all the while making the Liberal Agenda looking perverse and unworkable. How is that surrender?

JonPrichard on July 27, 2011 at 4:43 PM

Yes! If doesn’t pass the Senate, then the democrats own the disaster and if it passes and Obama vetoes, then Obama owns it.

If it passes, we get to do this again in April with a better bill and close to the elections.

On the brighter side, at least Boehner’s bill would reopen the debt ceiling talks in (or before) April, 2012… just in time for the campaign to fire up. No way can we let the Dems shove this down the memory hole before the election. (Dems know that, which is why they’ll never allow the bill to pass.)

We were told during obamacare the big fight would be in Nov of 2010, we won. then we were told the big fight would be over the budget. the speaker caved saying it was not the time to fight the fight will be over the debt limit, the debt limit comes and the speaker caves. Now they are saying the big fight will be over the Nov 2012 elections. How stupid do they really think we are?

If Republicans weren’t in charge of the House the debt ceiling would have been rubber stamped – complete with more tax hikes and advancement of the Liberal agenda. Now, we’ve had this national debate, Americans are increasingly aware of the problems facing us, and we get some growth cuts and no tax hikes all the while making the Liberal Agenda looking perverse and unworkable. How is that surrender?

I can only hope that some of the more idiotic folks on these threads are libtard trolls.

Sugar Land on July 27, 2011 at 4:47 PM

You can hope in one hand and …….

We aren’t playing games. We’re tired of the games. You enjoy your games while I ONLY HOPE that the silent majority is as steadfast as I am….election after election. Stop the madness. I’m not a libtard troll. I’m one of those hated ‘tea partiers’ and I’m one of many that mean business and it will be seen in our votes. Hopefully, GONE are the days of campaign fluff…We’re watching every single vote that goes down and we’re making notes.

I don’t know about that. Reid seems to oppose this as much as CCB, and he even has a Presidential veto to cover for him. I’m not sure we really have anything to lose politically even if we pass Boehner’s plan. Seems as though the Senate is hell bent on saying “no” to everything coming out of the House. But again, as far as reality is concerned, we’re screwed. We’re facing trillions upon trillions of debt, and not enough in D.C. care enough to do anything about it. Just keep preparing your family, friends, and neighbors. I don’t think we’re going to make it out of this one without a serious fire to pass through.

If Republicans weren’t in charge of Tea Party folk hadn’t been elected to the house the House the debt ceiling would have been rubber stamped – complete with more tax hikes and advancement of the Liberal agenda.

fight. make Obama offer his plan. pin Obama and the dems down on what they want. bigger government more taxes and more borrowing. Make the dems own it. and then vote

the dems ar emaking the gop cave without a fight at all.

unseen on July 27, 2011 at 4:51 PM

How are they caving? No new taxes are part of that plan, right? And we’ll have this debate again next summer, which is NOT what Obama wants. True, the “cuts” aren’t nearly enough, but it’s clear more then that won’t get through the Senate without new taxes. And they tried CCB. From polling, it looks like the public will blame the GOP more for a default, too…there’s only so much Boehner can do at this point.

I’m so sick of this crap. Just pass Boehner’s plan, tell Reid his plans DOA in the House and that he can choose from among the Ryan budget, CCB/BBA or the Boehner plan. Then just end it. Toss it over to the Senate and force the upper chamber to sweat a bit along with Obama. As far as reality goes, I suggest continuing to stockpile and finding ways to help out in your local community if and when the fit hits the shan.

Weight of Glory on July 27, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Amen… May I suggest that the entire house flee to Illinois to await the Senate vote, so there will be no conference.

You all wanna see the GOP fold? Keep cheerleading for the House bill to go down in flames, and next will come Reid’s bill — the one the LSM will remind everyone has ACTUAL budget cuts in it — and they’ll find enough votes in the House to approve it. Then it will be on to Barry, and he and Reid will have “saved the day.” But wait! The US credit rating still gets downgraded? Well, that’s because the GOP House took too long and then didn’t even have a plan. Barry and Reid did the best they could, but the House left their hands tied. Blah, blah, blah. Hello Obama second term. Hello FULL implementation of Obamacare. Hello Barry replacing two maybe three Supreme Court justices. And goodbye nation. But, gosh, we’ll have these warm memories of sticking to our guns and “burning it all down.” That’ll be a real comfort on the unemployment line, or while we’re looking at our rapidly dwindling pay checks.